It isn't just a matter of where to draw the line on "elite." It's what you LOOK FOR to define elite. Sure, it's nice to have a bright shiny 5-star rating on Scout. But there are middling 4-stars with offers from everyone under the sun, and most of them would be considered fantastic gets by pretty much everyone not worried about the final averages. Besides, most of us would like to at least see these kids play some meaningful snaps before judging their eliteness.

Now, with that said.. have you even SEEN the recruiting rankings? EVERYONE considers this class to be among the best in the country, with every service giving Michigan at least 16 (!!!) four- or five-stars. Derrick Green would give Michigan four 5-stars on Scout.

Okay, well I'm not sure what you're looking for with the term "elite" but both Terry Richardson and Jourdan Lewis are top-100 prospects to ESPN, if I recall correctly. And both were all-American game participants. So if that counts, then there you have it. They're not consensus 5-stars or anything, but they're pretty highly rated.

Games are won in the trenches. I agree that it's a little bit frustrating regarding wide receivers and such, but a good offensive line and a good defensive line can make your team pretty good immediately. Wisconsin has done a good job up front without a ton of skill talent, and that's worked out pretty well for them in recent years. Stanford developed a good line and tight ends, got a good QB, and the wide receivers haven't really mattered.

Congratulations and welcome aboard young man. Glad you chose Michigan.

"the Spirit of Michigan...is based on a deathless loyalty to Michigan and all her ways....and a conviction that nowhere is there a better university, in any way, than this Michigan of ours" - Fielding Yost

Whats the scouting report on this kid? Why is he ranked so low? I don't care about stars just want to know why he is so under the radar,especially being 6'2. Is he slow? Did he not hit the camp circuit?

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

That's two more spots - so you're down to Green, Hunt and the new TE from Texas (Smythe) for those two spots.

Others believe the long snapper (Spyneiwski) may have conditions on his offer - if this is true, you're talking 28 or 29 spots depending on your belief in the first assumption.

Personally, I think 28 is the number. I'm just not sold we'll even get the opportunity to take 28. I think we get Green and it'll be tougher to secure one of the last two.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

except considering how Smythe's name just popped up again, another new possibility or two wouldn't surprise me. Sam Webb has been hinting the class could get to 29. Maybe he knows something about those possible conditions.

I like how he stays deep enough and moves fast enough to not get beat, and adjusts to the play. Too many times this year I've seen guys line up too close, wait till the WR has a 5 yard head of steam to really move, and then scramble after they get beat deep. Other times we've had some blown zone coverages where guys leave their man and find acres of space in the middle, and I think Reon won't be as susceptible to that. He isn't the most aggresive tackler, actually he's not a very good tackler, or blazing fast, but he's 6'2", he's a willing tackler, and he's pretty instinctive. I think he's gonna buy our front enough time to get to the qb.

“True loyalty is that quality of service that grows under adversity and expands in defeat. Any street urchin can shout applause in victory, but it takes character to stand fast in defeat. One is noise — the other, loyalty.”

Get used to the idea that shorthand, internet slang (or sloppy grammar, spelling, syntax, etc) is neither necessary nor warmly embraced on this board. Gripe if you will, but it helps clean up some of the cyber-detritus that otherwise litters the Internet.

This is a fairly erudite cohort here on this board, and that (along with rampant UM homerism) is one reason I read here so much. I am not a UM student or graduate, just a lifelong fan since the Wangler/AC/Bo days. I do, however, possess BS and Master's degrees; hence, I value reading posts that don't make my head hurt.